Nutrients, Good or Bad? (Confused)

A

aberg12012

AC Members
Nov 23, 2005
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Neenah, WI
www.pbase.com
I recently set up a FW planted tank (see thread here.) Since the tank is new, with only a few small angel fish which I feed VERY sparingly, I'm wondering if the lack of nutrients from minimal feeding is good or bad for the plants? I assume it varies depending on the plant species... but in general? Is it better to feed the fish sparingly, and add more macro and micro nutrients via liquid fertalizers? Does it cause less algae growth one way or the other? Are plant tablets, like the ones you stick in the substrate a must? Guess I'm just confused starting out. :D
 
You can't kill your plants with too much nutrients, the more the merrier. Too bad algae thinks so too. Too much food won't hurt anything, but will make your phosphates rise. If you balance your fertilizers right, you'll have a happy aquarium, if you have good lighting and CO2 to boot.

EDIT saw your other post. CO2 is really needed more by your plants than other nutrients, and if the pressurized system seems to expensive (meaning your human on an average or less salary) you can go the DIY method, which can be very effective, although may prove difficult on a tank that big. I know it has ben done (ask wasserpest from the plantedtank.net forums)
 
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Ok, so I won't worry about overfeeding, except to keep algae blooms under control.

As far as C02... I'm reading up, and plan on trying the DIY method tomorow. I'm curious to try the DIY method... but probably end up going with a pressurized system anyways. I still am not clear on how the pressurized systems work. Besides the tank, do I just need a normal regulator? Or is there a special one needed to keep the pressure low enough to only release small bubbles at a time? Or is this done with a simple needle valve? Then I assume I can get as automated or not as I want, with PH monitor and ect?
 
Are you using both the 96 watt bulbs right now? If so, you should be adding extra nutrients and CO2 in my opinion. Looks like you have a good plant load in there which is good. Once you have CO2 up to a level of about 15-25 ppm you should be adding a good amount of nutrients.

As a rough guide, I'd say you could add 5 ppm of N, 7.5 ppm K, and 1 ppm P once or twice a week and customize it as you see it needs. Hopefully your tap water will provide enough Mg and Ca if you are doing lots of w/c.
 
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Preassurised CO2 system is quite simple. You need a tank, a reductor (the fancy thingy with two manometers), needle valve for precise dosing. Electromagnetic valve is optional, if you decide to turn off CO2 injection at night, but IMO it's unecessary. Check valve is good in case tube falls off accidently.
 
I'm sure you've read the stickies at the top of the forum page right? You've been given lots of good info, just may be difficult to sort it all out.
Balance is the key to thwart algae.
Feed your fish. Nutrients are good! Imbalanced nutrients or too many may be trouble.
You will likely have to add nutrients too. Definitely get CO2 going. IME, anacharis likes P (Phosphorous) and looks better with more.
 
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